Second geothermal power plant in Menengai, Kenya completes testing and nears COD
The 35-MW Orpower 22 geothermal power plant in Menengai, Kenya (source: Kaishan Group)
Carlo Cariaga
6 Mar 2026
Commercial operations of the second 35-MW geothermal power plant in Menengai, Kenya is now imminent following the completion of 30-day capacity testing.
The 30-day stability operation test of the second 35-MW geothermal power plant in the Menengai geothermal field in Kenya has been completed as of 5 March 2026. With all independent third-party tests now completed, the facility expects to shortly receive the certification from the independent party and notify the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) to declare the power plant as having achieved commercial operations.
The announcement was made by the Kaishan Group, owner of the power plant operator OrPower 22 following its 2023 acquisition. The power plant is wholly owned and operated by the Kaishan Group and receives steam supply from the Menengai steamfield which is managed by state-owned Geothermal Development Company (GDC).
The start of operations of the OrPower 22 power plant is notable for one more reason – it officially brings the installed geothermal power capacity of Kenya above the 1000 MW threshold. With this, Kenya joins the vaunted “1 GW Club” of countries, joining the United States, Indonesia, Philippines, Türkiye, and New Zealand.
Kaishan states that the power plant operated stably during the test period, with all operational indicators and parameters meeting the design requirements. It is the first geothermal power generation project in Africa that was invested in, constructed, and operated by a Chinese enterprise. According to reports, the power plant will generate about $15 million in annual revenue for the group over the next 25 years.
Kaishan has since become further involved in the geothermal power sector of Kenya, signing a supply agreement with KenGen for a geothermal-powered green fertilizer production facility in Naivasha. The agreement states that KenGen will supply steam from the Olkaria geothermal field to the 165-MW facility to be built and operated by Kaishan through local subsidiary Kaishan Terra Green Ammonia Limited.
The Menengai field now has two operational geothermal power plants, including the first one by Sosian Energy which came online in 2023. The third power plant, being developed by Globeleq, is scheduled to finish construction by mid-2026. Rehabilitation work at the Olkaria I power plant is also expected to be completed by June 2026, which will add 18 MW of capacity through equipment upgrades.
Source: Kaishan
